So You Like FourSquare

Have you caught the FourSquare bug?

FourSquare is a mobile application that lets you checkin anywhere around you. From your local gym, to a movie theater, to a restaurant – even the Apple store, you can checkin just about anywhere.

And if you checkin enough, you can unlock badges, specials, and even become the mayor of your favorite place.

Why FourSquare? It originally started out as a way of finding cool places to go in an area that may be unfamiliar to you. Co-founder Dennis Crowley was planning a trip to Scandanavia in 2008, and grew frustrated after a Google search gave him random and non-useful results. He reached out to friends to ask for travel tips and recommendations, and received some amazing tips. So an idea for an application that would allow users to share facts about locations in a gamelike format was born.

Sounds great. But is it really something that can make the long haul? Is this an application that will be here a year from now?

Maybe so. You just have to think outside the box for a while.

Let’s say you are in the travel business. Why not build up your own channel of tips to locations you feature? When someone checks in, they will receive your tips?

That’s what the History Channel started up as a way to promote sites they use in their programming. Instead of random tips, you’ll actually receive historic tips put out by their historians. The more you uncover, the closer you’ll get to unlocking the Historian badge. And you can learn a variety of interesting facts along the way.

Or how about if you host an event? SXSW may be off the charts compared with your event, but it’s a great way to come up with ideas for your own. What if you used the app to bring people together? Provide tips about the local area, what to see and where to go.

I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more of FourSquare in the future.

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Use BizSugar For Small Business Social Bookmarking

When you think social bookmarking, you think Digg and De.licio.us. They are the big names, and the sites that have made the biggest names within this category. Yet just like every other category, the biggest doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best for your business.

If you fall in the small business category, and provide news and tips that appeal to other small businesses, give BizSugar a try. BizSugar is a small business focused social bookmarking site that provides categories in the marketing, finance, franchises, global business, legal, management, technology and startup categories. The top voted stories receive front page status, and can usually wind up on the front page with 20 to 30 votes, or sugars. Readers also have the ability to send a post to Twitter, Stumble Upon, Delicious, Facebook, Google Buzz or Blogger, or email it to a friend.

Like other social bookmarking sites, you have the ability to create a profile, including photographs, links to your website, RSS to your blog, and links to other social networking sites. Once your profile is built, you can begin sharing news, adding friends, commenting and voting on other stories, and building relationships with other BizSugar members.

The best way to see if you are a match for the BizSugar community is to head over and take a look around. Start by looking at today’s top stories on the home page. You can click to top stories yesterday, over a 7 day period, 30 days, and past year. Also take a look at the hot topics to see what’s trending now.

Once you have a good idea what’s being submitted, and what people enjoy, start submitting.

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Are You Protecting Your Wifi Connection?

Own a small business? Chances are you are out all the time running errands and meeting clients. And when you stop by your local coffee shop, you probably spend a few minutes checking in online. Have you ever thought about security from that free wifi you get? If not, its time you did.

Firesheep is a new free Firefox extension that demonstrates exactly how easy it is to hijack any computer, and shows you how much at risk you can be.

After installing Firesheep, you can begin capturing information of everyone using the network with an insecure website connection. So if someone is logging in to their Facebook account, you can simply click on their icon, and you’ll soon be accessing their Facebook account, and have rights to do anything you please within that account.

Sound dangerous? You bet. Especially if you have a ton of contacts. The last thing your “friends” want or need is to be spammed by you within your own account. And you also run the risk of having your account terminated if too much damage is done.

So how do you protect yourself? Start by securing your web sessions, and secure your computer laptop from anyone at wifi hotspots.

One potential protection software is Hotspot Shield, a free software program that is downloadable, and will protect your IP address and protect you from online identity theft. Know of any other software you recommend? Leave a comment here.

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How Hootsuite Can Make You More Efficient

If you use Twitter, you have to use a desktop application. It will speed up your process and your system, and allow you to get more done in a shorter amount of time. For most of the time I’ve used Twitter, I’ve also used the Twhirl and the Tweetdeck applications. And while I loved both of them, I found myself wanting just a little bit more.

Hootsuite was launched in December 2008, and while I’ve seen a lot of people using it, I never jumped at moving platforms, well, because I’d have to learn a new system. If finally decided to give it try this past week when someone referred it again to me as a way of automating what I do. I’ve also read the iPad application is fairly dynamic, so with those two dynamics coming at me, I decided it was time.

If you have ever wondered how you’ll get everything done on top of your normal workload, Hootsuite may be your answer. With just a couple of clicks, you can load in a variety of your social sites, including your Twitter accounts, Facebook profile, Facebook pages, LinkedIn accounts, and Foursquare accounts. They all show up as tabs across your screen, so moving is as easy as clicking on your tab.

Compose a message, shorten your URL, schedule when you’ll release your message, even save your message in draft mode, its all easy to do right from your web browser. Unlike Twhirl and Tweetdeck, there’s nothing to download – access it from any web browser. And you choose where the message will be sent to – one account or all, its up to you.

Social should never monopolize your time. Instead, it should become a routine in your day. Spend 30 minutes in the morning adding posts and generating content. Check back once or twice in the day to engage with your followers. And build as you go along. And Hootsuite will definitely be a part of my new schedule – how about you?

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Are You Using Social Sites To Announce PleaseRobMe

Have you ever felt like your life has become an open book? You shout out to your Twitter friends when you’re heading to a meetup. You ask your Facebook friends if anyone will be attending the upcoming seminar in Las Vegas. And hey, maybe you even chat about your vacation, posting photographs along the way to share with all your newfound friends.

Have you ever thought about the other side? You know, the “what if” the wrong person gets this message, and now has all the information they need to head over to your place and rob you?

That’s the idea behind PleaseRobMe.com. The purpose of the site isn’t to let would-be robbers in on an easy way to find the next house to rob. Instead, it’s a way to bring attention to the fact of how you are releasing your information – and a good reason why you may wish to change the way you share.
PleaseRobMe
PleaseRobMe.com is linked in with two of the top social sites being used on mobile devices – Twitter and Foursquare. The concept behind both of these popular tools is to let people know what you are doing – right now. But if you take that concept too far, you’re also letting potentially millions of others know where you are, what you’re doing, and how long you’ll be away. So a little post like:

Yes, Friday. Two weeks in Europe start tomorrow-can’t wait. Will share photos on my Flickr acct along the way.

Can potentially tell someone they have two weeks to find you, choose the right time to head in to your place, and have plenty of time to pick and choose exactly what they want.

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Sony Bloggie Camera – A Must Have For Bloggers

Brand new to the marketplace in 2010 is the Sony Bloggie Camera, perfect for bloggers that want an easy camera to take along, and have instant access to videoing everything.Bloggie Camera

I’ve always been a huge fan of the Flip camera, and have one I use all the time. But the newest entry – the Bloggie Camera – has really captured my attention.

The Bloggie has all of the things you would expect: compact size, USB arm, cool colors, easy to use software. But it also has things you wouldn’t:

Like the unique swivel lens. The lens swivels 270 degrees, so you can use it to photograph things in front of you while watching the display screen, or swivel it around to record yourself and still be able to see what your capturing on the display. How cool.

A memory stick media slot – so capturing a ton of video without accessibility to download isn’t a problem. Simply carry multiple sticks, and you can have an unlimited supply of video – or at least until the battery runs out.Bloggie Camera 360 lens

And the most exciting feature is the optional 360 degree lens accessory. The 360 lens lets you capture everything that’s happening around you. So if you’re interviewing someone, the 360 lens can capture the both of you, without having to move the camera.

The Bloggie is also compatible with both PC and MAC.

According to Sony, The Bloggie is shipping today, and will be in a store near you very soon. I’ll be in line…

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The Flip Video – A Necessity For Any Business Owner

We recently purchased The Flip Video camera to take with us when we travel. Not only have we seen amazing results using this tiny camera, but with the ease of use, it really was impossible not to get one. flip video

What makes The Flip different from any other camera you’ve ever used is its flexibility. Simply take The Flip and start recording. Depending on The Flip you buy, you can have anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours of recording time. When you’re finished recording, pop out the USB port, plug it into your laptop or desktop, and with its own software will download it immediately to your files.

If you don’t need any editing, you can take your video and share it anywhere. Put it up on YouTube, or put it onto your Facebook account. You can also take it and put it into your blog posts, to share any of your comments anywhere, anytime.

I’ve recorded several videos with my Flip, and love the results. Plus its easy to take along everywhere, which means its also easy to have with you when you run across a reason to use the video.

Try it out at your next convention, and record some of the cool new things in your industry. Or record a how to video to show your clients how to use your products better. I know once you start using this handy little camera, you’ll be using it all the time.

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